Poggio al Sole

Poggio al Sole sits on a hillside in the Val d'Orcia, surrounded by 30 acres of private woodland with long views across one of Tuscany's most quietly beautiful landscapes. The farmhouse is around 300 years old and has been restored with care, keeping its original stone fireplaces, traditional hearth and the external stone staircase that leads up to the tower bedroom. The interiors are comfortable and unpretentious, with the kind of lived-in warmth that takes years to accumulate rather than months to design.

Life here centres on the stone-paved terrace that looks out across the valley, where meals for up to 16 can be eaten outside under a straw shelter with the hills spread out below. The solar-heated saltwater pool and hot tub sit at the edge of the property, positioned to face the afternoon sun and the evening light on the valley. There is no air conditioning in the main living spaces, but the elevation and the thick stone walls keep the house cool through the summer months. Poggio al Sole suits families or friends who want to slow down, eat well and spend time in a landscape that asks very little of you.